Letters to the Editor, Aug. 12, 2018: Trump acts like a grownup businessman

Not to be a President Trump apologist, but for a vaunted intellectual of the precious circles of political enlightenment inside Washington, Thomas A. Firey, author of the Commentary column, “Are Trump’s economic policies really making America great?” seems clueless about the very subject on which he attacks the president.

Apparently, Firey doesn’t know his history and is naïve when it comes to understanding the business world and how negotiations are done.

While important, budget cuts are not as critical as lower tax rates for increasing revenue.

History shows that every time taxes are reduced, the economy is stimulated and revenues increase. To state that fiscal policy is flawed while ignoring this is folly.

As for trade and immigration, Firey admits tariffs against the U.S. were already there. Other countries have always been unfair, but never took us seriously – but now they do and now we can have true free trade.

And, why does he not understand that someone who is in our country illegally and sending his earnings to another country is bad for our economy and security?

Firey is also wrong on regulation. Regulations have been horrible and anti-business. Removing them, especially the unconstitutional ones, has already helped and will continue to help. I understand this as a businessman. Politicians and think tank “fellows” have no clue.

As GDP continues to rise, we’ll get the deficit under control. Eight years of less than 2 percent growth crushed our economy. As Trump continues to run this country like a business, sound fiscal policy and lower national debt will also happen.

Trump is not impulsive, he’s acting like a grown-up. He doesn’t dislike trade and immigration, he loves fair trade and legal immigration. Elected officials should view their positions as leadership roles to improve the country, not as opportunities to game the system for power and personal riches.

Dominion’s environmental track record isn’t good

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Regarding the recent news story, “Judges vacate two permits for Atlantic Coast Pipeline”: One of the more interesting facts about the crossing location in question is that it was picked because it is the shortest traverse of the Appalachian Trail that Dominion could pick to avoid congressional approval.

Dominion couldn’t care less that it severely impacts Wintergreen Resort, or that it will add another gouge into the Blue Ridge, or that it imperils the only entrance and exit to the resort. The fact is, Dominion is all about money. It’s one of the leading polluters on the East Coast and now it wants to damage our natural beauty – whether it’s the Blue Ridge Mountains or the James River.

Dominion’s track record is not a good report card. It doesn’t want to be regulated because its shareholders come first.

Immigrants have even inspired presidents

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Immigrants have benefited the U.S. in ways unknown to most Americans.

Khalil Gibran was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the U.S. during the nativist period of the 1920s. He died impoverished in 1931 in New York City, a year before the election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Gibran is known for his literary works including “The Prophet,” but less known for his words borrowed by U.S. elected officials that identify a particular time in the 20th century – a period when inspiration was in need but absent. In an article written in Arabic and translated to English close to 80 years ago, Gibran used the term, “The New Deal” as the title.

The article was meant to help newly arrived immigrants adjust to their surroundings. The term, “new deal” became FDR’s slogan in 1932 to give impoverished Americans a hand up rather than a handout. The other English translation of Gibran’s Arabic title is “The New Frontier,” which was used by another well-read president, John F. Kennedy, to inspire his generation.

President Kennedy used a Gibran quote as inspiration in his 1960 inaugural address. Gibran was reassuring emigrants from the Middle East who were leaving their old feudal society in exchange for a new, unknown, and scary environment – and by giving to their new surroundings, they were better off than by taking.

Gibran wrote, “Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in a desert.”

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s recent Op/Ed column, “Let’s count everyone,” is righteous speech. If the anti-immigrants of today prevail, how many future philosophers or presidents might we be in danger of losing?

Tax cuts may work now, but tomorrow?

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I recently read two columns in the Sunday Commentary section on the effects of the tax cuts that were implemented last year. The first column brought up the point that tax cuts will only be effective long-term if there are spending cuts implemented to offset the loss in revenue; I’m sure that isn’t going to happen. The second essay pushed the benefits of the cuts, although the writer acknowledged that expiration is headed our way.

It is myopic to extol the virtues of a tax cut with no forward thinking as to the effects these cuts may have on the future of our economy. Tax cuts, with no corresponding offset in spending, will become extremely painful in the future. It brought to mind the song lyrics by Grass Roots: “And don’t worry ’bout tomorrow … live for today.”